LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Off to a 9-0 start, University of Texas at Tyler is the unanimous No. 1 in the first NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll of the 2022 season. The Patriots, opening 9-0 for the 12th time since 2007, received all 16 first-place votes and 400 points.
UT Tyler swept the field at both the Arkansas Tech Invitational in Conroe, Texas and the Alvy Early Memorial Classic in Bentonville, Ark. In the season-opening tournament, the Patriots recorded five wins, including triumphs over then-No. 20 Central Oklahoma (17-4), then-No. 25 Central Missouri (8-1) and the host Golden Suns (5-3). A week later, they defeated three Great Lakes Valley opponents – Drury (7-1), Quincy (15-0) and Illinois Springfield (7-4) – and Emporia State (8-4).
Three programs entered the top 10 – No. 6 Minnesota State (4-1), No. 9 Angelo State (10-1) and No. 10 Indianapolis (3-1) – while Valdosta State (6-2) and Concordia Irvine (12-0) rose several positions to No. 2 and No. 4, respectively. North Georgia (8-2) also climbed two spots to No. 3.
Two California Collegiate Athletic Conference programs – No. 12 Cal State Monterey Bay (and No. 19 Chico State – entered the rankings following their first competition since the abbreviated 2020 season.
No. 14 Rogers State (10-1), No. 17 Tampa (5-3), No. 20 Texas A&M-Kingsville (8-1) and No. 23 Anderson (11-1) made their way into the top 25 after receiving votes in the preseason poll.
The 2022 NFCA Division II Top 25 Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the eight NCAA regions. Records reflect games played through Feb. 13.
2022 NFCA Division II Top 25 Softball Coaches Poll
February 15 (Week 1)
Rank |
School |
Points |
2022 Record |
Prev. Ranking |
1 |
UT Tyler (16) |
400 |
9-0 |
1 |
2 |
Valdosta State |
371 |
6-2 |
7 |
3 |
North Georgia |
364 |
8-2 |
5 |
4 |
Concordia Irvine |
363 |
12-0 |
10 |
5 |
West Texas A&M |
329 |
6-2 |
4 |
6 |
Minnesota State |
310 |
4-1 |
11 |
7 |
Grand Valley State |
308 |
0-0 |
6 |
8 |
Augustana |
292 |
4-3 |
2 |
9 |
Angelo State |
246 |
10-1 |
18 |
10 |
Indianapolis |
225 |
3-1 |
12 |
11 |
Auburn Montgomery |
219 |
5-2 |
14 |
12 |
Cal State Monterey Bay |
214 |
6-1 |
NR |
13 |
Lincoln Memorial |
196 |
6-2 |
13 |
14 |
Rogers State |
194 |
10-1 |
RV |
15 |
Oklahoma Christian |
185 |
6-2 |
15 |
16 |
Central Oklahoma |
138 |
7-2 |
20 |
17 |
Tampa |
127 |
5-3 |
RV |
18 |
Georgian Court |
124 |
0-0 |
19 |
19 |
Chico State |
97 |
8-2 |
NR |
20 |
Texas A&M-Kingsville |
89 |
8-1 |
RV |
21 |
West Florida |
80 |
5-3 |
17 |
22 |
Biola |
74 |
5-4 |
3 |
23 |
Anderson |
56 |
11-1 |
RV |
24 |
Saint Anselm |
48 |
1-4 |
8 |
t25 |
UAH |
42 |
8-1 |
23 |
t25 |
West Liberty |
42 |
0-0 |
24 |
New to Poll: No. 12 Cal State Monterey Bay, No. 14 Rogers State, No. 17 Tampa, No. 19 Chico State, No. 20 Texas A&M-Kingsville, No. 23 Anderson.
Dropped Out: No. 9 West Chester, No. 16 Southern Arkansas, No. 21 Colorado Mesa, No. 22 Texas A&M University-Commerce, No. 25 Central Missouri.
Receiving Votes: Texas A&M University-Commerce (30), Harding (14), Barry (9), Kutztown (8), Carson-Newman (6).
The 2022 NFCA Division II Top 25 Coaches Poll is voted on by 16 NCAA Division II head coaches with two representing each of the NCAA’s eight regions. Records reflect games played through Feb. 13.